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fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M14.234 10.162L22.977 0h-2.072l-7.591 8.824L7.251 0H.258l9.168 13.343L.258 24H2.33l8.016-9.318L16.749 24h6.993zm-2.837 3.299l-.929-1.329L3.076 1.56h3.182l5.965 8.532l.929 1.329l7.754 11.09h-3.182z\"\u002F>",{"id":47,"title":48,"author":49,"body":50,"cefrLevel":940,"date":49,"description":941,"exercises":942,"extension":1042,"faqs":1043,"gcseTier":49,"intro":49,"language":1056,"lastUpdated":49,"meta":1057,"navigation":1058,"path":1059,"seo":1060,"stem":1061,"verbSlugs":49,"__hash__":1062},"pages\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Ftime-clauses.md","Time clauses in English: when, while, as soon as, until, before and after",null,{"type":51,"value":52,"toc":926},"minimark",[53,73,76,81,89,142,149,170,181,185,188,206,209,227,255,259,363,367,370,376,385,391,399,410,422,426,429,435,447,453,465,497,501,504,524,534,538,558,585,588,602,610,633,637,772,776,779,868,872,875,907],[54,55,56,57,61,62,65,66,69,70],"p",{},"A time clause tells you ",[58,59,60],"em",{},"when"," the main action happens. It is half a sentence,\nnot a whole one, and it starts with a time word: ",[58,63,64],{},"when, while, as soon as,\nuntil, before, after, once, by the time",". On its own it dangles, waiting for the\nrest: ",[58,67,68],{},"when the bell rings",", and then what? Join it to a main clause and it\nworks: ",[58,71,72],{},"when the bell rings, everybody stands up.",[54,74,75],{},"The grammar itself is not hard. One rule inside it causes more errors than any\nother single point at B1 level, and we will get to it in the next section\nbecause it is the reason most people arrive on this page.",[77,78,80],"h2",{"id":79},"the-rule-everyone-breaks-no-will-in-the-time-clause","The rule everyone breaks: no will in the time clause",[54,82,83,84,88],{},"English marks the future ",[85,86,87],"strong",{},"once",". If a time word has already told the listener\nthat we are looking forward, the verb after it stays in a present tense.",[90,91,92,107,118,130],"ul",{},[93,94,95,102,103,106],"li",{},[58,96,97,98,101],{},"I'll call you when I ",[85,99,100],{},"arrive","."," (not ",[58,104,105],{},"when I will arrive",")",[93,108,109,102,115,106],{},[58,110,111,112,101],{},"We'll wait until the rain ",[85,113,114],{},"stops",[58,116,117],{},"until the rain will stop",[93,119,120,102,127,106],{},[58,121,122,123,126],{},"As soon as she ",[85,124,125],{},"gets"," here, we'll eat.",[58,128,129],{},"as soon as she will get here",[93,131,132,102,139,106],{},[58,133,134,135,138],{},"By the time you ",[85,136,137],{},"read"," this, I'll be gone.",[58,140,141],{},"by the time you will read\nthis",[54,143,144,145,148],{},"Look at where the ",[58,146,147],{},"will"," went in each pair: into the main clause, where it\nbelongs. The two halves are not both marked for the future; the main clause\ncarries it and the time clause borrows it.",[54,150,151,152,157,158,161,162,165,166,169],{},"This is exactly the pattern you already met in\n",[153,154,156],"a",{"href":155},"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Fconditional-sentences","conditional sentences",": ",[58,159,160],{},"if it rains,\nwe'll stay in",", never ",[58,163,164],{},"if it will rain",". Time and ",[58,167,168],{},"if"," behave the same way in\nEnglish, and once you group them together in your head you stop making the\nmistake in both.",[54,171,172,173,176,177,180],{},"Why does it feel so wrong to learners? Because most other languages allow, or\ndemand, a future in both halves. Spanish says ",[58,174,175],{},"cuando llegue"," with a subjunctive,\nFrench says ",[58,178,179],{},"quand j'arriverai"," with a straight future. English simply took a\ndifferent route. There is no logic to appeal to here. It is a habit you install\nby repeating correct sentences until the wrong one sounds odd.",[77,182,184],{"id":183},"present-simple-or-present-perfect","Present simple or present perfect?",[54,186,187],{},"Both are allowed after a time word, and the choice is about emphasis.",[90,189,190,199],{},[93,191,192],{},[58,193,194,195,198],{},"When I ",[85,196,197],{},"finish"," work, I'll call you.",[93,200,201],{},[58,202,194,203,198],{},[85,204,205],{},"have finished",[54,207,208],{},"The present simple simply names the event. The present perfect insists that the\naction is completely over before the next one starts. Use it when the\ncompleteness matters:",[90,210,211,217,222],{},[93,212,213,216],{},[58,214,215],{},"As soon as I've eaten, we can go."," (not while I am still eating)",[93,218,219],{},[58,220,221],{},"After she's read the letter, she'll understand.",[93,223,224],{},[58,225,226],{},"Once you've paid, the ticket is yours.",[54,228,229,230,233,234,237,238,240,241,237,243,246,247,250,251,254],{},"With ",[58,231,232],{},"after",", ",[58,235,236],{},"as soon as"," and ",[58,239,87],{}," the perfect is very common, because those\nwords already point at a finished action. With ",[58,242,60],{},[58,244,245],{},"while"," the simple is\nusually enough. Never use ",[58,248,249],{},"will have"," in the clause: ",[58,252,253],{},"when I will have finished","\nis wrong twice over.",[77,256,258],{"id":257},"the-time-words-one-by-one","The time words, one by one",[90,260,261,269,277,289,297,305,318,330,339,354],{},[93,262,263,265,266],{},[85,264,60],{}," - at that moment or event. The general-purpose word. ",[58,267,268],{},"When the film\nends, we'll go.",[93,270,271,273,274],{},[85,272,245],{}," - during a longer action, with something else happening inside it.\n",[58,275,276],{},"While I was cooking, the phone rang.",[93,278,279,282,283,285,286],{},[85,280,281],{},"as"," - much like ",[58,284,245],{},", slightly more formal, often for two things\nchanging together. ",[58,287,288],{},"As the sun went down, the air grew cold.",[93,290,291,293,294],{},[85,292,236],{}," - the very moment something happens, with no gap. ",[58,295,296],{},"Ring me as\nsoon as you land.",[93,298,299,301,302],{},[85,300,87],{}," - when something is finally done, with a sense of a stage completed.\n",[58,303,304],{},"Once the paint is dry, we can move the chairs back.",[93,306,307,310,311,314,315],{},[85,308,309],{},"until"," (or ",[85,312,313],{},"till"," in speech) - up to that time and no longer. ",[58,316,317],{},"Wait until\nI come back.",[93,319,320,323,324,326,327],{},[85,321,322],{},"before"," \u002F ",[85,325,232],{}," - earlier than, later than. ",[58,328,329],{},"Take your key before you go\nout. We had tea after we finished.",[93,331,332,335,336],{},[85,333,334],{},"by the time"," - not later than that point, usually with something already\ncomplete. ",[58,337,338],{},"By the time we arrive, the shop will have closed.",[93,340,341,323,344,347,348,350,351],{},[85,342,343],{},"the moment",[85,345,346],{},"the minute"," - a stronger ",[58,349,236],{},". ",[58,352,353],{},"The minute he\nwalked in, everybody went quiet.",[93,355,356,359,360],{},[85,357,358],{},"whenever"," - every time. ",[58,361,362],{},"Whenever it rains, the roof leaks.",[77,364,366],{"id":365},"when-vs-while","When vs while",[54,368,369],{},"The two get mixed up more than any other pair, and the verb form gives you the\nanswer.",[54,371,372,375],{},[85,373,374],{},"While"," frames a stretch of time. It usually takes a continuous verb, and\nsomething else happens inside that stretch.",[54,377,378],{},[58,379,380,381,384],{},"While I ",[85,382,383],{},"was walking"," home, I saw an old friend.",[54,386,387,390],{},[85,388,389],{},"When"," points at a moment or a complete event. It usually takes a simple verb.",[54,392,393],{},[58,394,194,395,398],{},[85,396,397],{},"got"," home, the door was open.",[54,400,401,402,405,406,409],{},"Both are possible in some sentences with a real change of meaning. ",[58,403,404],{},"When she\ncalled, I was cooking"," puts the call in the foreground. ",[58,407,408],{},"While she was calling, I\ncooked"," makes the call the background and my cooking the news. Whichever you\nchoose becomes the frame, and the other becomes the event.",[54,411,412,413,415,416,419,420,101],{},"One firm restriction: do not use ",[58,414,245],{}," for a short, single action. ",[58,417,418],{},"While the\nbell rang, we stood up"," sounds wrong to a native ear because a bell ringing is\nnot a stretch you can put something inside. Use ",[58,421,60],{},[77,423,425],{"id":424},"until-vs-by","Until vs by",[54,427,428],{},"A different pair, same confusion, and both are time words so they belong here.",[54,430,431,434],{},[85,432,433],{},"Until"," covers every minute up to a point. It goes with things that continue,\nand with negatives.",[90,436,437,442],{},[93,438,439],{},[58,440,441],{},"The shop stays open until nine.",[93,443,444],{},[58,445,446],{},"She won't leave until the job is done.",[54,448,449,452],{},[85,450,451],{},"By"," names a deadline: at that time or earlier. It goes with things that get\nfinished.",[90,454,455,460],{},[93,456,457],{},[58,458,459],{},"Send it to me by nine.",[93,461,462],{},[58,463,464],{},"By next year they'll have moved house.",[54,466,467,470,471,350,474,477,478,481,482,484,485,488,489,493,494,496],{},[58,468,469],{},"I'll stay by six"," is wrong; you mean ",[58,472,473],{},"until six",[58,475,476],{},"I'll finish it until six"," is\nwrong; you mean ",[58,479,480],{},"by six",". If the sentence is about a length of time, reach for\n",[58,483,309],{},"; if it is about a cut-off, reach for ",[58,486,487],{},"by",". The\n",[153,490,492],{"href":491},"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Ffuture-continuous-and-future-perfect","future perfect"," lives\nalmost entirely with ",[58,495,487],{}," for the same reason.",[77,498,500],{"id":499},"where-the-comma-goes","Where the comma goes",[54,502,503],{},"A time clause can sit at the front of the sentence or at the back, and the\nmeaning does not change. The punctuation does.",[90,505,506,515],{},[93,507,508,509,350,512],{},"Time clause first: ",[85,510,511],{},"comma",[58,513,514],{},"When the rain stops, we'll go out.",[93,516,517,518,350,521],{},"Main clause first: ",[85,519,520],{},"no comma",[58,522,523],{},"We'll go out when the rain stops.",[54,525,526,527,233,529,531,532,101],{},"That is the whole rule, and it is worth knowing because it is one of the few\ncomma rules in English that is not a matter of taste. Putting the time clause\nfirst is slightly more formal and gives it a little more weight, which is why\ninstructions and warnings so often start with ",[58,528,322],{},[58,530,60],{}," or ",[58,533,87],{},[77,535,537],{"id":536},"the-exception-when-as-a-question-word","The exception: when as a question word",[54,539,540,541,543,544,547,548,550,551,554,555,557],{},"Everything above applies to ",[58,542,60],{}," as a ",[85,545,546],{},"time conjunction",". But ",[58,549,60],{}," also\nworks as a ",[85,552,553],{},"question word",", and then it introduces a noun clause rather than a\ntime clause. In that job it takes ",[58,556,147],{}," perfectly happily.",[90,559,560,568,576],{},[93,561,562],{},[58,563,564,565,101],{},"I don't know when he ",[85,566,567],{},"will arrive",[93,569,570],{},[58,571,572,573,101],{},"Nobody can tell us when the shop ",[85,574,575],{},"will open",[93,577,578],{},[58,579,580,581,584],{},"She asked me when the train ",[85,582,583],{},"would"," leave.",[54,586,587],{},"Compare the two uses side by side:",[90,589,590,596],{},[93,591,592,595],{},[58,593,594],{},"I'll phone you when he arrives."," (time clause: when = at the time that)",[93,597,598,601],{},[58,599,600],{},"I'll ask her when he will arrive."," (noun clause: when = at what time)",[54,603,604,605,609],{},"That second sentence is an\n",[153,606,608],{"href":607},"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Findirect-questions","indirect question",", which brings its own\nword-order rules with it.",[54,611,612,613,531,616,350,619,622,623,625,626,629,630,632],{},"The test is whether you can replace the clause with ",[58,614,615],{},"something",[58,617,618],{},"it",[58,620,621],{},"I don't\nknow something"," works, so it is a noun clause and ",[58,624,147],{}," is fine. ",[58,627,628],{},"I'll phone you\nsomething"," does not work, so it is a time clause and ",[58,631,147],{}," is out.",[77,634,636],{"id":635},"summary-table","Summary table",[638,639,640,656],"table",{},[641,642,643],"thead",{},[644,645,646,650,653],"tr",{},[647,648,649],"th",{},"Word",[647,651,652],{},"Job",[647,654,655],{},"Example",[657,658,659,674,688,702,716,730,744,758],"tbody",{},[644,660,661,666,669],{},[662,663,664],"td",{},[58,665,60],{},[662,667,668],{},"at that moment or event",[662,670,671],{},[58,672,673],{},"Call me when you get in.",[644,675,676,680,683],{},[662,677,678],{},[58,679,245],{},[662,681,682],{},"inside a longer action",[662,684,685],{},[58,686,687],{},"While she read, I cooked.",[644,689,690,694,697],{},[662,691,692],{},[58,693,236],{},[662,695,696],{},"the very moment something happens",[662,698,699],{},[58,700,701],{},"We'll go as soon as you're ready.",[644,703,704,708,711],{},[662,705,706],{},[58,707,309],{},[662,709,710],{},"up to that time and no longer",[662,712,713],{},[58,714,715],{},"Wait until I come back.",[644,717,718,722,725],{},[662,719,720],{},[58,721,322],{},[662,723,724],{},"earlier than that point",[662,726,727],{},[58,728,729],{},"Eat before you go.",[644,731,732,736,739],{},[662,733,734],{},[58,735,232],{},[662,737,738],{},"later than that point",[662,740,741],{},[58,742,743],{},"We left after the rain stopped.",[644,745,746,750,753],{},[662,747,748],{},[58,749,334],{},[662,751,752],{},"not later than that point",[662,754,755],{},[58,756,757],{},"By the time we got there, it was shut.",[644,759,760,764,767],{},[662,761,762],{},[58,763,87],{},[662,765,766],{},"when it is finally done",[662,768,769],{},[58,770,771],{},"Once you've paid, it's yours.",[77,773,775],{"id":774},"common-mistakes","Common mistakes",[54,777,778],{},"Ranked by how often learners actually make them.",[780,781,782,799,814,828,844,856],"ol",{},[93,783,784,790,791,794,795,798],{},[85,785,786,789],{},[58,787,788],{},"Will"," after a time word."," ",[58,792,793],{},"When I will see him, I will tell him"," should be\n",[58,796,797],{},"when I see him, I'll tell him",". This one mistake accounts for most of the\nerrors on this page.",[93,800,801,790,807,810,811,101],{},[85,802,803,806],{},[58,804,805],{},"Will have"," in the time clause.",[58,808,809],{},"By the time I will have finished"," is\nworse than the first, because it doubles the error. Say ",[58,812,813],{},"by the time I\nfinish",[93,815,816,790,821,824,825,101],{},[85,817,818,820],{},[58,819,433],{}," for a deadline.",[58,822,823],{},"Please send it until Monday"," means something\nstrange: keep sending it every day until Monday. Say ",[58,826,827],{},"by Monday",[93,829,830,790,835,794,838,350,841,843],{},[85,831,832,834],{},[58,833,374],{}," with a short action.",[58,836,837],{},"While the bell rang, we stood up",[58,839,840],{},"when the bell rang",[58,842,374],{}," needs a stretch of time.",[93,845,846,790,849,852,853,855],{},[85,847,848],{},"Missing comma when the clause comes first.",[58,850,851],{},"When the rain stops we'll go","\nneeds a comma after ",[58,854,114],{},". It costs nothing and it reads far better.",[93,857,858,790,861,864,865],{},[85,859,860],{},"A past tense for a future event.",[58,862,863],{},"When I finished my work, I will call\nyou"," mixes the times. If the work is still to come, use the present: ",[58,866,867],{},"when I\nfinish my work, I'll call you.",[77,869,871],{"id":870},"practice","Practice",[54,873,874],{},"Put the verb in the right form. Answers are below.",[780,876,877,885,890,895,901],{},[93,878,879,880,884],{},"I'll wait here until the bus ",[881,882,883],"code",{},"___"," (come).",[93,886,122,887,889],{},[881,888,883],{}," (get) home, she'll ring you.",[93,891,380,892,894],{},[881,893,883],{}," (read) the paper, someone knocked at the door.",[93,896,897,898,900],{},"By the time we ",[881,899,883],{}," (arrive), the film will have started.",[93,902,903,904,906],{},"Do you know when the next train ",[881,905,883],{}," (leave)?",[54,908,909,912,913,915,916,919,920,922,923,925],{},[85,910,911],{},"Answers:"," 1. comes (present after ",[58,914,309],{},") 2. gets (present after ",[58,917,918],{},"as soon\nas",") 3. was reading (a stretch of time inside which the knock happened) 4. arrive\n(present after ",[58,921,334],{},") 5. will leave (",[58,924,60],{}," is a question word here, not\na time conjunction)",{"title":927,"searchDepth":928,"depth":928,"links":929},"",2,[930,931,932,933,934,935,936,937,938,939],{"id":79,"depth":928,"text":80},{"id":183,"depth":928,"text":184},{"id":257,"depth":928,"text":258},{"id":365,"depth":928,"text":366},{"id":424,"depth":928,"text":425},{"id":499,"depth":928,"text":500},{"id":536,"depth":928,"text":537},{"id":635,"depth":928,"text":636},{"id":774,"depth":928,"text":775},{"id":870,"depth":928,"text":871},"B1","How English time clauses work, why you never say when I will arrive, the difference between when and while, until and by, and where the comma goes.",[943,983,1003,1030],{"type":944,"instructions":945,"items":946},"which-one","Choose the correct verb form after each time word.",[947,952,956,960,965,970,974,979],{"prompt":948,"answer":949,"options":950},"I will call you when I ___ home.","get",[949,951],"will get",{"prompt":953,"answer":954,"options":955},"As soon as she ___, we will eat.","arrives",[954,567],{"prompt":957,"answer":114,"options":958},"We will wait here until the rain ___.",[114,959],"will stop",{"prompt":961,"answer":962,"options":963},"Before you ___, please close the window.","leave",[962,964],"will leave",{"prompt":966,"answer":967,"options":968},"After the film ___, we will walk home.","ends",[967,969],"will end",{"prompt":971,"answer":137,"options":972},"By the time you ___ this, I will be gone.",[137,973],"will read",{"prompt":975,"answer":976,"options":977},"While you ___, I will cook.","sleep",[976,978],"will sleep",{"prompt":980,"answer":575,"options":981},"Nobody knows when the shop ___ again.",[575,982],"opens",{"type":944,"instructions":984,"options":985,"items":986},"Choose the best time word for each sentence.",[60,245,309,236,322,232],[987,989,991,993,995,997,999,1001],{"prompt":988,"answer":245},"___ I was cooking, the phone rang.",{"prompt":990,"answer":309},"Wait here ___ I come back.",{"prompt":992,"answer":236},"___ the plane lands, send me a message.",{"prompt":994,"answer":322},"___ you go out, take your key.",{"prompt":996,"answer":232},"We had a cup of tea ___ we finished the work.",{"prompt":998,"answer":60},"___ I was young, we lived by the sea.",{"prompt":1000,"answer":245},"She read her book ___ the others were playing.",{"prompt":1002,"answer":309},"Don't say a word ___ I tell you.",{"type":1004,"instructions":1005,"items":1006},"fill-blank","Write the correct form of the verb in each gap.",[1007,1011,1014,1018,1021,1023,1025,1027],{"prompt":1008,"answer":1009,"hint":1010},"I will tell her when she ___ back.","comes","come",{"prompt":1012,"answer":1013,"hint":1013},"As soon as I ___, I will send you the answer.","know",{"prompt":1015,"answer":1016,"hint":1017},"We will not start until everyone ___ here.","is","be",{"prompt":1019,"answer":1020,"hint":1020},"After you ___ the door, put the key under the box.","close",{"prompt":1022,"answer":100,"hint":100},"By the time we ___, the shop will have closed.",{"prompt":1024,"answer":1010,"hint":1010},"When the guests ___, the room will be ready.",{"prompt":1026,"answer":949,"hint":949},"I will wait here while you ___ the car.",{"prompt":1028,"answer":1029,"hint":137},"Once she ___ the letter, she will understand.","reads",{"type":1031,"instructions":1032,"pairs":1033},"match","Match each time word to the job it does.",[1034,1035,1036,1037,1038,1039,1040,1041],{"left":60,"right":668},{"left":245,"right":682},{"left":236,"right":696},{"left":309,"right":710},{"left":322,"right":724},{"left":232,"right":738},{"left":334,"right":752},{"left":87,"right":766},"md",[1044,1047,1050,1053],{"q":1045,"a":1046},"Why can't I say I will call you when I will arrive?","Because the word when already tells the listener the action is in the future, so English refuses to mark it twice. After a time word (when, while, as soon as, until, before, after, once, by the time) you use a present tense even though you mean the future: I will call you when I arrive. The will stays in the main clause. Almost every language that has this rule breaks it differently, which is why the mistake survives so long.",{"q":1048,"a":1049},"What is the difference between when and while?","When points at a moment or a whole event: when the bell rang, when I was young. While points at a stretch of time that something else happens inside: while I was cooking, the phone rang. A useful test is the verb form. While usually takes a continuous verb (while she was reading), and when usually takes a simple one (when she read the letter). If both actions are long and happen together, while is the better word.",{"q":1051,"a":1052},"What is the difference between until and by?","Until marks a stretch of time that runs up to a point and then stops: I waited until six means the waiting filled every minute. By marks a deadline: finish it by six means at six or any time earlier. Until goes with things that continue, by goes with things that get completed, which is why the future perfect pairs with by (by six I will have finished) and almost never with until.",{"q":1054,"a":1055},"Is it ever correct to use will after when?","Yes, when when is a question word rather than a time conjunction. In an indirect question it introduces a noun clause, not a time clause, and the normal future rules apply: I don't know when he will arrive. Nobody can tell us when the shop will open. Compare I will phone you when he arrives, where when joins two events in time and takes the present.","english",{},true,"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Ftime-clauses",{"title":48,"description":941},"english\u002Fgrammar\u002Ftime-clauses","urzv09lP7mG0kgojW-PZ8RppqRHFq6s5oON6uWioVxw",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":1064},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M13 21h8M15 5l4 4m2.174-2.188a1 1 0 0 0-3.986-3.987L3.842 16.174a2 2 0 0 0-.5.83l-1.321 4.352a.5.5 0 0 0 .623.622l4.353-1.32a2 2 0 0 0 .83-.497z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":1066},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M11 4.702a.705.705 0 0 0-1.203-.498L6.413 7.587A1.4 1.4 0 0 1 5.416 8H3a1 1 0 0 0-1 1v6a1 1 0 0 0 1 1h2.416a1.4 1.4 0 0 1 .997.413l3.383 3.384A.705.705 0 0 0 11 19.298zM16 9a5 5 0 0 1 0 6m3.364 3.364a9 9 0 0 0 0-12.728\"\u002F>"]